Leadership Is Key to Get Through Troubled Times

Businesses have been put through the wringer over the past couple of years, and for the small business owner, this could have you asking a lot of tough questions. It’s even more stressful because, unlike large enterprises, a lot of the issues are directed at you. This month, we thought we’d take a look at a couple of questions that need to be addressed when going through periods of uncertainty.

How Are You Responding to Current Issues?

The most important function a business owner has is to lead. They need to set the strategy the business is going to use to get where they want it to go. Setting a course isn’t always that simple, because coming up with objectives and goals isn’t always seen with clarity. The more involved a business owner is in the day-to-day decision-making, the more employees will be willing to sacrifice.  

Unfortunately, there isn’t an all-knowing guide to leading people. While setting goals is a major thing, so is providing constructive feedback. It’s true that there is a balancing act here, as well. By and large, workers don’t like to be micromanaged, it creates animosity and a disdain for management that does nothing to promote the company’s objectives. On the other hand, some of these same people aren’t as productive or engaged without strong decision-making coming from the top down. This double-edged sword has to be navigated with careful consideration. While leaders don’t need to be in on every decision, and certainly don’t have to question every single decision their managers make, it is crucial that any good leader is informed and provides feedback that will help their employees accomplish their vision. 

In smaller companies, this balancing act is much more important as it is their responsibility to set the tone for the entire workforce. By conducting thorough assessments regularly and managing people the way they need to be managed, an organization will thrive. Without these considerations, however, there are a lot of detrimental circumstances that can arise including inefficiency, worker turnover, and worse yet, failure to meet customer expectations. 

Are You a Solid Leader?

Every small business owner or decision-maker is tasked with problematic situations. They don’t have enough capital for one thing or they can’t find the resources, whether that be technological or human resources to create the vision for their company. This stress could lead to impulsive decision-making; a dire result for any organization. Here are three things that any good leader will do to help avoid negative consequences:

• Owning your decisions - Leadership in business is a responsibility. People depend on your ability to make decisions and set the tone for how the business will be run. This means being responsible with your investments, your project timelines, and your decorum. Today, workers are not going to continue working for people they don’t respect, so be a person that a majority of people can respect and you will cultivate positive relationships with your workers.
• Be informed - One of the most important parts of leading any team is the ability to see what is coming, and making the requisite adjustments. This is more crucial in a small business where the buck typically stops with very few people. Being able to adjust to the ebbs and flows of business is important to keep it above water, even when the world seems to be working against you.
• Communicate clearly - Being a good communicator may be the best feature of any good leader. It is an invaluable quality, especially in a small business, where leaders will have to interact with customers, vendors, and staff. Since small business owners and decision-makers need to handle a vast array of issues, being able to talk and write proficiently can be immeasurably beneficial. 

Good, thoughtful leadership will help organizations go much further than businesses that lack it. One of the best ways that business leaders can help streamline their companies is to use technology. It can improve nearly every part of a business and can help leaders get the information they need to set a course that their staff can accomplish. If you would like more information about how technology can help you be a better leader, give us a call today at (202) 640-2737.